Minecraft is coming to Raspberry Pi!

Posted on Nov 24, 2012
by Owen

Have you ever thought about learning to program? Where would you begin? How much would it cost? What would you need to get things moving?

The Raspberry Pi is a credit card-sized computer that’s a great starting point. It’s cheap, capable, and approachable for newbie programmers. It’s also extremely fun to play around with, no matter your experience with code. Plug it into a TV or monitor, attach a keyboard, and begin.

Soon you’ll be able to play and program with Minecraft on one of the snazzy little devices. Aron and Daniel have dedicated time to porting a version of Minecraft: Pocket Edition that comes with a revised feature set and support for multiple programming languages. We’re calling it Minecraft: Pi Edition, and it will be completely free to download.

The possibilities are massive. You could organise the cheapest LAN party of all time, or use the Pi to learn the fundamentals of programming on a miniscule budget. It’s like hacking your way into Minecraft and modifying the game world with code, a bit like being Notch, Jeb, or Nathan, but arguably more fun and less stressful.

You can start by building structures in the traditional Minecraft way, but once you’ve got to grips with the in-game features, there’s opportunity to break open the code and use programming language to manipulate things in the game world. You’ll be learning new skills through Minecraft.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation are a registered charity. They sell the Pi from $35, and ship them all around the world. It’s already being used in schools to get children interested in programming and help them learn Linux, which Daniel describes as “the operating system of the future.” It’s a great way to widen people’s perspective on what computers can achieve.

We’re extremely excited to be involved, and can’t wait to show you more. Read more about the Pi, and find out what you need to get started, at their official site and dedicated wiki. Minecraft: Pi Edition will be available to download soon.